Desert Castle 12/1 for Betfred 2000 Guineas after impressive debut win

Castle storms into Classic picture

Desert Castle saw his odds for next year’s Betfred 2000 Guineas tumble after making a big impression on his debut in the Zyn Frontrunner EBF Newcomer “Confined” Maiden Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of Frankel, who is a full brother to Group One winner Dream Castle and dual Group Two scorer With The Moonlight, was all the talk before the seven furlong contest amid glowing reports from his home work at trainer Charlie Appleby’s yard.

And the 1/2 favourite lived up to that hype in justifying his skinny odds when leaving his rivals toiling late on under a confident ride by Billy Loughane.

Held up early doors by the Classic-winning rider, the odds-on favourite moved smoothly into contention before striking for home inside the two furlong pole. Although Desert Castle showed signs of greenness late on he merely had to be kept up to his work by Loughnane before passing the post three and a half lengths clear of Sommood.

Appleby, who won the race 12 months ago with Al Zanati, said: “He is a third foal out of that mare by Frankel. The other two have been Group race winners, so hopefully that bodes well for him.

“He is a fair slab of a horse now, and he will only keep on improving. We have liked him from the get go. I saw him galloping as a foal at White Lodge so I’ve watched him every day, and I’ve been keen to get my hands on him.

“We wanted him to get a lead and do it the right way around. He just moved through very easily. I never really felt we were under any real threat.”

While impressed with what he saw from Desert Castle, who was trimmed from 25/1 into 12/1 for the 2000 Guineas by Paddy Power and Sky Bet, the Newmarket handler admitted he is likely to take another small step with the exciting juvenile before pitching him in at Group race level.

Appleby added: “I’d imagine, on that evidence, I would say we would probably give him another run in a novice as he wouldn’t be streetwise to chuck in the deep end yet.

“You know, with the crowd here like tonight, they shy away from them a bit. I will probably go the novice route more so than chuck in the deep end.

“You would love to work back from a Dewhurst really, but whether I get that opportunity to put him in at stakes level before then I don’t know.”

Murphy shines on Zarakova

Zarakova opened up the door to bigger and better opportunities after making the most of her previous experience under a well-judged ride from Oisin Murphy in the Zyn Pole Position Maiden Fillies’ Stakes.

After filling the runner-up spot on her previous start at Epsom Downs, the daughter of Zarak put that experience to good use in the mile prize when going one better with a front running success under the five-time champion Flat jockey

Although debutant Lily Pink, from the yard of Charlie Johnston, loomed up as a big danger, she could not quite find a way past the 6/4 market leader, who pulled out more than enough late on to prevail by a neck.

Anna Lisa Balding, wife of the winning trainer, said: “I think it was an exceptionally good ride as Oisin was at his best there as he managed to control the race from the front, but she did it nicely in the end. He said he had to be the pilot today, not the passenger.

“I think she has learned from her previous experiences, and I think that Epsom education is invaluable, and she would have found that a lot easier coming here today.

“I think she is probably just a typical filly, who is a little bit spicy. That looked about the right trip to me, but Andrew will have a look at it. The most important thing was winning today, and she has done it nicely.”

Godolphin double up with Nabati

Nabati can look forward to another step back up in class after surviving a stewards’ enquiry ahead of returning to winning ways with a battling success in the Carling Novice Stakes.

Having hit the ground running on his debut at Yarmouth, the son of Night Of Thunder then had to settle for second best upped to Listed level in the Apple Print & Creative Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury last time out.

It looked for much of the closing stages of the six furlong contest as though the 2-5 favourite would have to fill the runner-up spot once again after early leader, Tawakal, appeared to have slipped the field under James Doyle.

However, once finding top gear, the odds-on market leader bridged that gap deep inside the final furlong before obliging by a head to give Appleby and Loughnane their second winner together on the night.

Appleby said: “Billy felt that he is a nice horse. I loved the way he came out of the gates and popped straight into a nice rhythm.

"The second had to do it the hard way from the front, but it looked like he nicked it a few lengths out of the dip, but he made up the ground there.

“I took him to Newbury last time as his work had been good. I thought we could win it, but I think the winner looked alright, but again, when they turned the pace on he looked flat footed.”

Although Nabati holds an entry in the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York later this month, Appleby admitted he is keen to step him up to seven furlongs and earmarked the Listed Betfred Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster as a possible target.

Appleby added: “He got a bit lost in the dip there so we will probably step him up to seven furlongs.

“I don’t think I would be bold enough to go for the stiff seven furlongs around Sandown Park for the Solario so we could wait and go for something like the Flying Scotsman. Over seven furlongs he will be an interesting horse.

"You can’t beat what he has done now getting that race speed into him, but he is a good looking horse that has a good girth on him.”

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